'Vanities', a new musical toopen on Broadway in 2008

A new musical Vanities is to open on Broadway in the fall of 2008. With a score by David Kirshenbaum and a book by Jack Heifner, the musical is based on Jack Heifner's comedy 'Vanities', which ran off-Broadway for 1326 performances from 1976 - 1979.

The musical is described as "the comic journey of three bubbly Texas teens from cheerleaders to sorority sisters to housewives, liberated women and beyond. This coming-of-age tale set in the '60s and '70s is a musical scrapbook of an era that had to be lived to be believed. Vanities offer's a snapshot-sharp portrait of the lives, loves, disappointments, and dreams of best friends caught up in rapidly changing times."

Vanities will be directed by Judith Ivey, and produced on Broadway by Junkyard Dog Productions and Bartner/Jenkins. Casting and a theatre will be announced at a later date.

The show had its world premiere at TheatreWorks, in Palo Alto, California, from 21 Jun - 21 Jul 2006. The premiere was directed by Gordon Greenberg and featured Megan Hilty as Mary, Leslie Kritzer as Kathy and Sarah Stiles as Joanne. It was later showcased at the 2006 National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) Festival of New Musicals.

Sarah Stiles re-created her role of Joanne in an industrial production of Vanities held in Manhattan on 27 Sep 2007, which also featured Kate Wetherhead as Kathy and Mary Faber as Mary.

Judith Ivey (Director), recipient of two Tony Awards for her portrayals in 'Steaming' (1982) and 'Hurlyburly' (1984), is making her Broadway directional debut. Off-Broadway she has directed 'Yeardley Smith: More'(2004) at Union Square Theatre, 'Southern Comforts' (2006) at Primary Stages, 'Fugue' (2007) at the Cherry Lane Theatre, and most recently Second Stage Theatre 's production of 'The Butcher of Baraboo' (2007) at the McGinn-Cazale Theatre. Ivey was recently honoured with the Texas Medal of Arts for Theatre.

Jack Heifner (Book) is best known for the comedy 'Vanities'. He is also the author of many plays including 'Earth to Bucky', 'Natural Disasters', Bargains, Boy�s Play, Heartbreak, The Lemon Cookie, Key West, and other plays produced in New York, Los Angeles and theatres around the country. Mr. Heifner has written the book to six musicals, including 'Leader of the Pack' on Broadway.

David Kirshenbaum (Music and Lyrics) is the composer-lyricist for 'Party Come Here' which was performed at the Williamstown Theatre Festival this past summer. Other shows include 'Summer of �42' (book by Hunter Foster) and 'Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus' (book by Myles McDonnell).

(l-r) Megan Hilty, Leslie Kritzer and Sarah Stiles in TheatreWorks production of 'Vanities'.